This is a discussion on Bluffing within the online poker forums, in the Cash Games section; A little article I came across,
Factors to Consider When Bluffing in No Limit Holdem
Jace Thomas
Bluffing is a important weapon in

Bluffing is a important weapon in any no limit poker player's arsenal - but just like any other play, it should only be deployed after a reasonable amount of calculation and consideration. A brief list of some of the factors that should impact your decision:

1) How many players are you up against? I know, this seems more than obvious, but there's simple math at work that too many people ignore - the more players in the hand, the more likely it becomes that someone will have something worth calling with.

2) How many reasons would an opponent have to call your bluff? There's a big difference between bluffing into a flop of Q72 rainbow [all different suits] and a flop of QsJs7h. The more potential reasons the board gives an opponent to call you [in this case, likely flush draws, straight draws, or middle/low pair with a redraw hands] the less likely your bluff will succeed.

3) Where do your opponents fall on a general passive to aggressive scale? When you're last to act and everyone checks to you, knowing your opponents is crucial in determining whether or not to pull the trigger. Aggressive players tend to bet their hands more often than not [although if they feel you've been picking off too many pots they will start to look for a checkraise opportunity], but passive players feel much better about calling than betting. In short, I'd feel more comfortable bluffing against aggressive players simply because I can generally put more faith in the fact that their check is a sign of weakness.

4) How do opponents perceive you? Playing tight for the first 10 rounds or so makes it a lot easier to pull off a bluff here and there, with increasing frequency as the game continues. The initial impression players get of you is the one that generally sticks throughout the entire session [your more observant opponents will note when you switch gears] - so if you've set a tight impression, your bluffs have a greater chance of succeeding.

5) How are opponents likely to perceive your bet? This issue is largely a function of position and bet size. Bets from late position following checks from everyone in front are generally more likely to be viewed as bluffs [a fact that you can use to great advantage when you actually do flop a hand in late position], while bets from early position generally get more respect. The size of the bet matters as well; some players view underbetting the pot as a telltale sign of a steal, while others view massive overbets as such. Pay attention to the bet sizes [relative to the pot] that other players seem willing to call when they're playing "cop" and adjust your bluffs accordingly.

None of the articles in this vein dare to suggest that bluffing is a strategy that can be boiled down to a simple, concrete set of rules ala pot odds. Bluffing is certainly more of an art than a science, but that doesn't mean you have to go into it blind. Some situations lend themselves to more profitable bluffs than others, and even a rough idea [which is all this article provides] of what those situations are can make a big difference in your bankroll at the end of the month.

3) Where do your opponents fall on a general passive to aggressive scale? When you're last to act and everyone checks to you, knowing your opponents is crucial in determining whether or not to pull the trigger. Aggressive players tend to bet their hands more often than not [although if they feel you've been picking off too many pots they will start to look for a checkraise opportunity], but passive players feel much better about calling than betting. In short, I'd feel more comfortable bluffing against aggressive players simply because I can generally put more faith in the fact that their check is a sign of weakness.

This is so true, in my usual game that I play on a monday night, their is this one player(happens to be my closest friend),whenever I put in a heafty raise trying to take the pot down there and then, say with AK, everyone else will fold but of course she will call.
She checks the flop, another raise by me, she calls. And more often then not she will win the pot. She will call all the way with ace high or bottom pair. One thing she always says "she does not like to be bullied".
So anymore if she calls my raise, if I dont hit anything I will check all the way. It has saved me alot of money

#3

23rd November 2005, 5:08 PM

twizzybop [2,258]

Game: holdem

re: Poker & Bluffing

Your friend is called an elephant Kat, she lives in missouri as well (the show me state). No matter what you have she wants to see(hence the missouri joke), make a hefty stand, and won't forget. These players you have to have something in your hand(preferably a very good hand) cause they'll call you all the way to the river no matter what.

Elephants are good for taking down loose cannons(maniacs).

But you are correct.. Bluffing is more of a timing strategy then anything. The thing is do you also bluff on the flop, the turn, well river is harder cause most of the time you get called. I have bluffed the flop before and have someone call to bluff the turn to get them to fold. Then have it backfire or pull the no-no of being shorter stack and trying to bluff against the biggest stack at the table.

#4

25th November 2005, 12:24 AM

Schatzdog [695]

Online Poker at: Party

I think an important factor in bluffing is assessing your opponents skill level. You need to know at what level of the game they are thinking and if they are good enough to lay something down based on the information they are presented with. Once you have them understood the bluff becomes less likely to be read from their viewpoint.